Recall 20V638 covers 1,788 2014-2016 Chevrolet Cheverolet SS and Caprice Police Pursuit vehicles for faulty seat belt tensioner cables. Free repair at franchised Chevrolet dealers.
Chevrolet is recalling 1,788 2014-2016 Cheverolet SS sedans and Caprice Police Pursuit vehicles that had an earlier seat belt recall repair under 16V-518. If the driver's seat belt tensioner cable separates after repeated bending over the seat side shield, the driver is not properly restrained in a crash; Chevrolet dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The driver's seat belt pretensioner on 2014-2016 Chevrolet Cheverolet SS and Caprice Police Pursuit vehicles is part of the front seat belt system. In a crash, the pretensioner tightens the belt quickly so the belt holds the driver in the intended position. Its cable has to move cleanly around the seat trim each time the driver gets in or out.
This recall involves vehicles that were previously repaired under recall 16V-518, but the repair was not finished the way Chevrolet specified. The redesigned seat trim was supposed to create a better opening for the pretensioner cable. When that trim was not installed, the cable stayed routed over the seat side shield, where repeated bending can fatigue the cable and make it separate.
Before separation, the cable covering can show visible damage. Look for tears, holes, or wear marks on the cable cover near the driver's seat side trim.
Who's affected?
Includes two sedan lines across the 2014, 2015, and 2016 model years, all tied to the front seat belt pretensioner.
| 2016 Chevrolet Cheverolet SS | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2014 Chevrolet Cheverolet SS | seat belt |
| 2014 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit | seat belt |
| 2015 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit | seat belt |
| 2016 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit | seat belt |
| 2015 Chevrolet Cheverolet SS | seat belt |
| Units affected | 1,788 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific sedan.
What's the safety risk?
A separated tensioner cable can leave the driver improperly restrained in a crash, increasing injury risk. Look for visible tears, holes, or wear marks on the cable covering, and schedule the dealer inspection soon if your VIN is included. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2016 Chevrolet Cheverolet SS or Caprice Police Pursuit is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer to schedule the free seat-trim and pretensioner-cable inspection that fixes the driver seat belt tensioner cable routing problem.
- Bring the recall notice if Chevrolet mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V638 and GM recall N202312100 when you call.
- Use the driver seat belt on every trip and avoid delaying the repair, since a separated tensioner cable reduces driver restraint in a crash.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Chevrolet technician inspects the vehicle to confirm whether the updated driver's seat trim was installed during the earlier repair. If the trim is missing or incorrect, the technician replaces it. The technician also inspects the driver's seat belt pretensioner cable assembly and replaces it as needed. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. If you already paid out of pocket for a related seat trim or pretensioner cable repair, GM's reimbursement plan submitted on May 17, 2019 covers documented expenses. Bring your repair paperwork to the service desk.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 15, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 15, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| October 15, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 17, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
| November 30, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V638?
Recall 20V638 covers 1,788 2014-2016 Chevrolet Cheverolet SS and Caprice Police Pursuit vehicles that were previously repaired under recall 16V-518. The seat belt tensioner cable repair was not completed correctly on some vehicles, so Chevrolet dealers will inspect and repair the trim and pretensioner cable assembly for free.
What should I do if my 2014-2016 Chevrolet Cheverolet SS or Caprice Police Pursuit is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 20V638. If it is, call a franchised Chevrolet dealer and reference recall number 20V638 or GM recall N202312100. The dealer will inspect the seat trim and pretensioner cable assembly, then complete the needed repair for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and GM says the inspection and any needed seat trim or pretensioner cable assembly replacement will be performed free of charge at a franchised Chevrolet dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 20V638?
The risk is reduced driver restraint in a crash. If the seat belt tensioner cable separates, the driver is not properly restrained during a crash, increasing injury risk. The repair path is to have a Chevrolet dealer inspect the prior repair and replace the affected parts for free.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V638000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-800-222-1020 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V638 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V638000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →